Tool

ABSTRACT

A TOOL, COMPRISED OF A HANDLE MEMBER AND A CONTOURED HEAD MEMBER COUPLED THERETO, REMOTELY OPRATED COMPRESSION MEANS COUPLED TO THE HEAD MEMBER, AND OPERATING MEANS COUPLED BETWEEN SAID COMPRESSION MEANS AND SAID HANDLE MEMBER FOR COMPRESSIVELY DEFORMING APPROPRIATE TABS OF A CONNECTING DEVICE POSITIONED WITHIN THE HEAD MEMBER.

Oct. 12,1971 ,s,HA g TT, R 1 '3,611,537

TOOL

Filed Jan. 30. 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVISN'I'UR. FRANCIS S. HASSETT, Jr.

ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1971 F. $.HASSETT, JR

TOOL

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1970 I N V! 5N7 'OR.

FRANCIS S. HASSETT, Jr

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,6 l L537 Patented Oct. 12,. T9711.

US. Cl. 29203 D 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tool, comprised of a handle member and a contoured head member coupled thereto, remotely operated compression means coupled to the head member, and operating means coupled between said compression means and said handle member for compressively deforming appropriate tabs of a connecting device positioned within the head member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention is directed to the field of tools, and more particularly to a tool adapted to position and secure an appropriate connecting device about a conductor positioned therein.

Description of the prior art Prior art devices for positioning and securing a connector about a high potential conductor generally utilized, firstly, a substantially elongated member for retaining the connector prior to its positioning adjacent the selected conductor. Thereafter, in order to deform the appropriate portions of the connecting device about the conductor in an attempt to obtain a coupling therebetween, a second, generally manually operated closure device was necessary, requiring the operator to maintain the connecting device in proper position atop the elongated member with one hand, while simultaneously attempting to secure it to the conductor by operating the closure device with the other, the resulting operation being relatively tedious, awkward, time-consuming, and often unreliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the difficulties noted above with respect to known prior art devices by providing an improved tool which is structurally safer, simpler, less expensive, and more reliable and convenient than such devices. Firstly, the head member of the device is comprised of a first and a second extending portion and a connecting portion therebetween, the inner contoured surfaces of which define at least one connecting device receiving cavity. Movably coupled to the head member, extending therefrom, and having appropriately contoured closure surfaces adjacent a first end thereof, are a first and a second generally elongated compression means. The head member may be formed of a plurality of discrete, substantially parallel, interconnected elements defining a generally laminated structure. Detachably coupled to, and extending from the head member, is an elongated, insulated handle member. Each of a first and a second operating means is coupled thereto and extends generally outwardly therefrom, being attached to its associated first and second compression means through an associated first and second insulated coupling means interposed therebetween, whereby movement of each of the first and second operating means in a first direction causes the first end of its associated compression means to be directed towards and into a respective end of the connecting device receiving cavity in the head member, to cooperate with and inwardly displace an associated extending portion of a connecting device positioned therein.

Each of the first and the second compression means may be comprised of a plurality of discrete, substantially parallel, spaced apart, interconnected elements. Each of a plurality of interchangeable head members, adapted to receive a specified connecting device therein, may be detachably coupled to the head member to provide increased tool versatility. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved tool.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved tool having retaining means for holding and positioning a connecting device adjacent a conductor for assembly thereto.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved tool for remotely closing the tabs of a connecting device about a conductor positioned adjacent thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved tool for holding, positioning, and remotely closing the tabs of a connecting device about a conductor.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved tool having remotely operable compression means coupled to a head member to close extending tabs of a connecting device adapted to be received therein.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved tool comprising operating means remote from the compression means for the selective operation thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved tool having a detachable head member, permitting the removal and replacement thereof.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved tool having selectively insulated portions thereof for use about high potential conductors.

Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention and the best modes which have been contemplated for carrying them out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference characters:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a tool constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention, including an appropriate connecting device positioned therein.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the head member and compression means of the tool of FIG. 1 in a fully operated position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a head member and compression means of a tool constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a first embodiment of a tool 20 constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. Head member 22 has a first extending portion 24- and a second extending portion 26 in spaced apart relationship. Intermediate the extending portions 24 and 26 and coupled thereto at one end of each thereof is a connecting portion 28. Adjacent a first end 50 of first extending portion 24 and pivotally coupled thereto by pivot 98 adjacent its first end 38 is a generally elongated first compression means 34, extending substantially outwardly therefrom. A second generally elongated compression means 36 is similarly disposed adjacent a second end 52 of the second extending portion 26, being pivotally coupled thereto adjacent its first end 42 by pivot 100. Detachably coupled to and extending generally outwardly from connecting portion 28 of head member 22 is a generally elongated, electrically insulated handle member 54. Rotatably coupled to handle member 54 by pivot 92 and remote from the first end. 55 of handle 54 is a generally elongated first operating means 56. A first, preferably insulated, coupling means 68 is connected at its first end 94 by pivot 74 to first end 60 of operating means 56 and at its second end 72 by pivot 122 to second end 40 of first compression means 34, permitting remote operation of first compression means 34 by selective movement of first operating means 56. In like fashion, a second, preferably insulated, coupling means 70 is rotatably coupled at its second end 96, by pivot 78, to second operating means 58 intermediate the first end 64 and the second end 66 thereof. The first end 76 of second coupling means 70 is rotatably coupled to the second end 49 of second compression means 36 by pivot 124, providing similar remote operation of second compression means 36 by selective movement of second operating means 58. Opposing inner surfaces 32 and 30 of first extending portion 24 and second extending portion 26, respectively, of head member 22, are contoured to define a connecting device receiving cavity therebetween, permitting the recepit and retention therein of a connecting device such as 86. The first end 38 of the first compression means 34 and the first end 42 of second compression means 36 may be appropriately contoured to define substantially arcuate surfaces such as 48 and 46 respectively, corresponding to complementarily formed extending tabs 90 and 88 of connecting device 86. Support member 126 is interposed intermediate head member 22 and handle member 54, serving as a detachable coupling therebetween, demountably joining first end 55 of handle member 54 to connecting portion 28, upon the tightening of a fastening means such as bolt 84 engaged within support member 126. Thusly, each of a plurality of alternative head members such as 22 may thereby be selectively coupled to handle member 54. It should be understood that although a detachable coupling between head member 22 and handle member 54 is shown, a unitary construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. In practice, and by way of example, a connecting device such as 86 is positioned within the connecting device receiving cavity defined by inner surfaces 32 and 30 of first and second head member extending portions 24 and 26, respectively, extending tabs 90 and 88 of connecting device 86 projecting outwardly therefrom, adjacent corresponding first ends 38 and 46 of first and second compression means 34 and 36. To effect closure of extending tab 90, operating means 56 is selectively displaced in a first or clockwise direction, rotating about pivoting means 92 coupled to handle member 54. First compression means 34, remotely coupled to first operating means 56 through first coupling means 68, is thereby caused to rotate about pivot 98 in a first or closing direction, first end 38 of first compression means 34 being rotatably urged towards a first end 80 of the connecting device receiving cavity in head member 22. Extending tab 90, being directly adjacent first end 38 of first compression means 34, is thereby forcibly displaced towards connecting device 86 effecting the closure of a first associated aperture therein. In like manner, extending tab 88 of connecting device 86 may be urged towards second end 82 of the connecting device receiving cavity in head member 22 to effect a closure thereby by the remote operation of second compression means 36 resulting from the selective clockwise operation of second operating means 58. As may be better seen in FIG. 2, first compression means 34 and second compression means 36 have been rotated about their respective pivots 98 and 100, terminating at a second, fully operated position. Upon completion of the closure operation, extending tabs 90 and 88 of connecting device 86 are thereby caused to assume a position therein substantially as illustrated in FIG. 2. To eifect release of connecting device 86 from tool 20, first and second operating means, 56 and 58 respectively, are rotated in a generally counterclockwise direction, returning first and second compression means 34 and 36, respectively, to their initial position as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a further embodiment of a tool head member, first compression means, and second compression means. Head member 102, detachably coupled to handle member 120, is comprised of a plurality of discrete, substantially parallel, spaced apart, interconnected elements such as 106. Coupled thereto, at a first end 108 of a first extending portion 104 thereof, is a first compression means 110 comprised of a plurality of discrete, substantially parallel, spaced apart, interconnected elements such as 112, selectively interposed intermediate head member elements 106. Second compression means 114, coupled to a second end 118 of second extending portion 128 of head member 102, is similarly constructed, being comprised of a plurality of discrete elements such as 116, selectively interposed intermediate head member elements 106. It should be understood that although two first compression means elements 112 and two second compression means elements 116 are shown, further elements 112 and 116 may be added without departing from the spirit of the invention. Pivot 138 and pivot 140, each pivotally coupling its associated first compression means elements 112 to first end 108 of first extending portion 104 of head member 102, may be disposed in offset axial relationship one to another, whereby each said element is caused to describe a predeterminedly different are upon the displacement thereof, permitting the use of a single head member to effect proper closure of the extending tab of a plurality of variously sized associated connecting devices positioned therein. Each element 116 of second compression means 114 may be similarly individually pivotally coupled to its associated second extending portion element 106 of head member 102. A slot such as 134 disposed substantially adjacent second end 142 of each first compression means element 112 provides sufiicient clearance for pivot to permit proper drive of both elements 112 from a single coupling means 146 coupled thereto by pivot 130. Slot 136, pivot 132, and coupling means 148 are counterparts of elements 134, 130, and 148 hereinabove described, performing a similar function with respect to second compression means elements 116 of second compression means 114.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as folows:

1. A tool, comprising: a head member having a first extending portion and a second extending portion in spaced apart relationship, and a connecting portion therebetween; each of said first and said second extending portions of said head member having an inner contoured surface, said surfaces being in complementary relationship and defining at least one connecting device receiving cavity therebetween for the receipt therein of at least one connecting device having associated extending tabs thereon; at least one first compression means having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first compression means movably coupled to and extending from a first end of said first extending portion of said head member adjacent said inner contoured surface thereof; at least one second compression means having a first end and a second end, said first end'of said second compression means movably coupled to and extending from a second end of said second extending portion of said head member adjacent said inner contoured surface thereof; said first end of both said first and said second compression means being adapted to forcibly displace generally inwardly the adjacent associated extending portion of said connecting device; a handle member coupled to and extending outwardly from said connecting portion of said head member; a first operating means coupled to said handle member; a second operating means coupled to said handle member; a first coupling means having a first end and a second end, said first end thereof being coupled to said second end of said first compression means, said second end of said first coupling means being coupled to said first operating means; and a second coupling means having a first end and a second end, said first end thereof being coupled to said second end of said second compression means, said second end of said second coupling means being coupled to said second operating means; the movement of said first operating means causing the movement of said first end of said first compression means, and the movement of said second operating means causing the movement of said first end of said second compression means.

2. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said head member is formed of a plurality of discrete, substantially parallel spaced apart, interconnected portions.

3. A tool as defined in claim 2 wherein said first compression means comprises a plurality of discrete, substan tially parallel, spaced apart, interconnected elements.

4. A tool as defined in claim 2 wherein said second compression means comprises a plurality of discrete, substantially parallel, spaced apart, interconnected elements.

5. A tool as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said first and second compression means comprises a plurality of discrete, substantially parallel, spaced apart, interconnected elements.

6. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said head member is detachably coupled to said handle member, to permit the removal and replacement thereof.

7. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said first operating means is a substantially elongated member having a first end and a second end.

8. A tool as defined in claim 7 wherein said second end of said first coupling means is coupled to said first operating means substantially adjacent said first end thereof.

9. A tool as defined in claim 7 wherein said first operating means is coupled to said handle member generally intermediate said first end and said second end of said first operating means.

10. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said second operating means is a substantially elongated member having a first end and a second end.

11. A tool as defined in claim 10 wherein said second operating means is coupled to said handle member substantially adjacent said first end of said second operating means.

12. A tool as defined in claim 10 wherein said second end of said second coupling means is coupled to said second operating means generally intermediate said first end and said second end thereof.

13. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein a first surface adjacent said first end of said first compression means is generally arcuate.

14. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein a first surface adjacent said first end of said second compression means is generally arcuate.

15. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein a first surface adjacent said first end of said first compression means and a first surface adjacent said first end of said second compression means are both generally arcuate.

16. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said first coupling means is a generally elongated member.

17. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said second coupling means is a generally elongated member.

18. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and said second coupling means are generally elongated members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 29203 H 

